The Summer He Came Home Page 12

  Maggie was speechless.

  It was at that exact moment Cain arrived with Jake and Mac in tow. When she saw Mackenzie, all thoughts of Lori and her outrageous comments fled.

  Mac’s face was a mottled mess of cuts and bruises, and his right eye was swollen and black. She thought of Cain’s words, of the “family trouble” that had called him away Wednesday night, and her heart softened. Maggie knew what it was to bear the brunt of someone’s perverted version of love.

  She also knew the physical scars would heal, but it was the mental ones that needed tending the most. The healing process was so much longer and more complicated.

  “Lori.” Cain’s one word had the beauty queen literally prancing in her inappropriate heels.

  “Cain.” The woman batted her eyes like a pro. “Nice to know you’re sticking around. I hear you’re playing the big concert scheduled for the Fourth of July weekend.” The woman dripped sugar like it was honey, but her tone changed quickly as she spied Mac.

  “Good Lord, Mackenzie, I heard you got into it with Ben the other night.” She sounded horrified.

  “I’m sure you did, Lori.” Mac walked past them toward Raine, while Jake hung back, though his eyes followed his friend.

  Maggie glanced up at Cain. His eyes rested on Lori, so she was able to study him unobserved. Something fluttered in her chest as she took all of him in. He was dressed in a faded black T-shirt, one emblazoned with A Farewell to Kings across the chest. He wore the board shorts she’d seen him in at the Edwardses’. The ones she knew barely hung on to his hips. Her mouth went dry at the thought, and she wanted to look away but couldn’t.

  His tattoo drew her eye, an intricate design of music notes and what looked like gems—rubies—and though it was something she’d never do herself, she could appreciate the beauty.

  Cain said something funny, and her heart lurched as he smiled at the woman. His grin was wide, it was warm, and it was genuine. Maggie wanted it for herself and frowned as that thought jumped into her head.

  Lori leaned in close to Cain, whispered something in his ear, and then winked at Maggie. She made a dramatic turn and left, her long, skinny legs teetering as her four-inch heels stuck into the soft grass.

  “So”—Cain’s eyes swung her way—“put us to work.”

  “You didn’t say anything about working the garage sale last night.” Her thoughts found their way out into the open, and she blushed as his smile deepened.

  “Nice surprise?”

  Maggie clutched the pad of stickers in her hands and cleared her throat. She ignored his comment mainly because even though it was a nice surprise—if she wanted to be honest—he sure as hell didn’t need to know. “Actually, Luke Jansen is in charge.” She glanced past Cain. “He’s over there.”

  Cain’s smile faded somewhat, but he nodded. “Sure. Is Michael here?”

  “He’s around somewhere. Most likely with his buddy Tommy.”

  “All right. Let’s do this.” He nodded to Jake. “And then later”—he winked at Maggie—“we can play.”

  Mac groaned, a scowl hardening his features into a painful grimace. “Why the hell I let you talk me into getting up this early on a Saturday to come here is the question of the day, my friend.”

  “Suck it up.” Cain tossed a smile her way. “I’ll find you for lunch, all right?”

  Heat shot through her belly and settled down there. That he could do that to her with just a smile was insane. Her heart sped up, and her breath hitched at the back of her throat.

  I don’t know. I think this could be something real. His words echoed in her head like a whisper.

  A glimmer of hope nestled in her chest, a schoolgirl musing, and she found herself smiling in return as he nodded and then jogged toward Luke, with Mac and Jake close on his heels. The three of them—the Bad Boys, as they were called—had the attention of nearly everyone at the park.

  Including Maggie.

  “Okay, tell me again how he means nothing to you?” Raine stood beside her, black marker in hand, though she followed the men’s progress as well.

  Maggie didn’t say a word. Mostly because there was nothing to say, at least nothing she wanted to say out loud. In the space of less than two weeks, Cain had insinuated himself into her life, her thoughts, and her feelings. For the moment, she had no clue what she was going to do about it.

  She decided to think about it later. Which was easy to do, considering the bombshell that Raine was about to drop in her lap.

  “So, I went into the city yesterday.”

  Maggie continued to sticker the mountain of toys in the section they’d been given. She looked at Raine. The young widow was pensive, her brow furled in concentration as she carefully wrote out prices. Her complexion was pale even with the wash of sun that caressed her.

  Maggie sensed the conversation had just become serious.

  “I had an appointment with a specialist.” Raine continued to price the toys as she spoke. “A fertility specialist.” Her dark eyes sought Maggie’s, and she paused, letting the pain inside show briefly. Raine’s bottom lip trembled, and she took a second to compose herself before continuing. “I’m thinking of having a baby.”

  Maggie’s jaw dropped. Okay, she knew the young widow was hurting and hurting bad, but this was insane.

  “A baby,” Maggie repeated, kind of stunned.

  Raine’s eyes shimmered in the sun, the unshed tears like misty diamonds. “Jesse’s baby.” She laughed, but the sound was bittersweet and held no hint of joy. “We froze his sperm before he shipped out the last time he was home on leave. I didn’t want to. I thought it was creepy and unnecessary since, you know, he’d be home again, but Jesse insisted.” She bit her lip and exhaled. “It’s as if he knew he wasn’t coming back.”

  Maggie didn’t know what to say. All around them, volunteers were setting up for the sale. Conversations floated on the air, talk of the baseball game and barbecues or what plans had been decided for the rest of the weekend. Small stuff. Life stuff.

  All of it paled in comparison to what the young widow was struggling with.

  “The night that Jake called… I remember him telling me that Jesse had been hurt. Really bad. And before he even had a chance to say he’d passed, I thought of what Jesse and I had done.” Raine exhaled and glanced around. “I knew before he said the words.” She shuddered. “I knew Jesse was gone, and I was so angry at him.”

  Raine took a second to compose herself, and Maggie’s heart broke at the struggle she saw. “I’m still angry, and even though I know it makes no sense, I feel like…when he donated his sperm he was giving up. That it was an omen.” Her voice rose. “Everyone thinks I’m mourning Jesse, that my days are filled with thoughts of him and what we had and what we lost, but they’re wrong. You know what the truth is?”

  Maggie remained silent.

  “The truth is, all I’ve been thinking about is the fact that he’d want me to have his baby, and I don’t know…” Maggie bit her lip and held back tears of her own. “I don’t know if I want to do it, and that makes me feel like a total bitch.”

  “Raine, you need to take some time. Now isn’t the moment to make a decision like this. Jesse’s death still hasn’t hit you, but trust me, it will.” Maggie gave her a hug. “Everything is still so fresh, I’m sure some of it doesn’t seem real. A baby is a huge commitment, and I wouldn’t advise anyone to try it on their own.”

  Raine’s shrugged. “You seem to be doing a great job with Michael.”

  “I had no choice.”

  “I’m sorry.” Raine whispered.

  “You do, but you need to take some time. Step back and look at it when your emotions aren’t all over the place. You haven’t even grieved your loss. So don’t do anything rash, because once a child is conceived, that baby is for keeps.”

  “Hey, you girls all right?” Luke Jensen, Maggie’s neighbor, cut into their moment. “Can I get you guys coffee or anything?” The paramedic looked from Maggie to Raine questio
ningly.

  Raine shook her head and moved away as Maggie began to sticker a fresh lot of toys. “We’re fine.”

  Luke’s gaze lingered, but then he moved on.

  She spied Cain hauling out boxes of stuff from a small trailer that had appeared out of nowhere. He’d taken off his T-shirt, and his muscles rippled beneath the sheen of sweat that coated his skin. He turned suddenly as if he knew she was staring at him. Their eyes connected, and the physical jolt that shot through her body was scary. In that moment she knew. This man would break her heart if she let him.

  She needed to forget about him. And she needed to do it fast.

  Mac was tossing the stuff out to him, cursing as he did so and complaining about the pain along his jaw—a jaw his father had marked with his bare fists. Jake moved things along, though the soldier kept glancing in their direction, his gaze seeking Raine, his eyes filled with pain and hunger.

  Were they all right? Luke’s question echoed inside her head.

  Yeah, Maggie thought, we’re all just freaking peachy.

  Chapter 14

  To say the garage sale was a success would be an understatement. The weather had cooperated, spilling sunshine and heat onto the field, encouraging the crowds to come early and spend heartily.

  The townies were out in full force, and the influx of weekenders and a good number of folk who’d traveled from the city was impressive. The executives who’d organized the event were happily counting their cash, and by noon a good amount of the donated items were long gone. They’d been packed into cars and trucks and trailers and taken away, hopefully never to be seen again.

  Cain watched Maggie from across the park.

  She was still with Raine, though the toy section they’d been in charge of was very much depleted. She stretched her arms above her head and rolled her shoulders. The tank top she wore emphasized her full breasts, and her legs, with their delicate calves and toned thighs, were once more shown off to perfection.

  With her hair hanging in braids, she looked like every man’s fantasy schoolgirl, and the kicker? She wasn’t working it. At all. Just watching her drove him crazy.

  Cain groaned and ran his hands across his chin. Even now, here among the families and town folk, in this very public place…all he could think about was her. About having her alone and naked.

  He was hard like a geek teenager with no control, and his groin tightened even more as she rubbed the back of her neck, which in turn pushed those delectable breasts tighter against the thin fabric of her shirt.

  Her soft curves, hesitant touch, and the flare of passion he’d coaxed from inside her the afternoon before played over and over in his mind. He hadn’t wanted a woman this badly in years. Hell, not even Natasha had touched him the way Maggie did.

  It wasn’t just physical either. Sure, she was easy on the eyes and had a body that made his mouth water, but it was so much more than that. Her laughter was contagious, her shy wit captivating, her affection for her son quick and sure.

  He loved watching her interact with Michael. The mutual respect and love the two of them shared made him feel empty when he considered what filled his life.

  And yet there was so much he didn’t know. Cain’s eyes narrowed as he continued to study her. She was a mystery, this woman, and one he fully intended to unlock.

  “You got a thing for her.” Mac handed him a bottle of water and chugged his own back. “Bad.” He tossed his empty bottle into the recycle bin behind them. “Weird, ’cause she’s not your type.”

  Irritation pinched Cain’s mouth and he glared at his friend. “How the hell would you know what my type is?”

  Mac laughed, a loud, hearty chuckle that turned several heads, including Maggie’s. “You’ve dated models and singers and married an actress and, uh…” He tossed a wicked smile at Cain. “Let me see, there’s the whole groupie thing, which honestly I don’t know much about, but I can only imagine.”

  “Well, maybe my tastes have changed.” Cain scowled at Mac and shoved past him.

  Luke Jansen strolled up to Maggie and Raine, but Cain’s course was set and he didn’t deviate from it. He clenched his teeth and glared at the large paramedic. The bastard didn’t give up.

  “There you are, Cain.” The paper-thin voice stopped him cold. Just like back in the day.

  Mrs. Lancaster, the pastor’s wife. He had a sudden urge to look behind him, to make sure trouble wasn’t following in his steps.

  He turned quickly and smiled at the little woman before him. She was barely five feet tall, her round frame draped in a blue and yellow print dress that looked as if she’d grabbed it from one of the donated clothes hampers, and her feet were encased in black rubber boots. In her arms she held a basket of daisies that were as white as the perfectly coiffed hair that was pulled back into the tightest bun imaginable.

  Cain grinned. Time had stopped at Mrs. Lancaster’s door and left the lady exactly as he remembered. Boots and all.

  “How are things, Mrs. Lancaster?” he asked politely. He glanced behind her, and his mood darkened when he spied Luke a little too close to Maggie for his liking.

  “Oh my goodness, they’re just fine.” The woman beamed at him and adjusted the large basket in her arms. “I was thrilled when Lauren told me you’d decided to prolong your visit home.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, it feels good to be back. You need help with that?” Cain asked.

  “Oh no, dear, I’m on my way home. Must help Frank prepare tomorrow’s sermon.” She paused and cocked her head. “It would be awfully nice to have you sing in church again.”

  For a second Cain was speechless. He hadn’t sung in service since he was a teenager. In fact, it had been just as long since he had stepped inside a church.

  “Don’t look so horrified.” The woman winked and smiled. “You might be surprised how good it feels to come back to the fold. Lord knows, the corruption you face every day must wear you down. All that sex and drugs and…”

  Rock and roll?

  “Well, I’m sure you know what I mean.” Her faded blue eyes narrowed. “Crystal Lake will energize your soul and fill your spiritual well, Cain. If you let it.” She rearranged the daisies and glanced toward Maggie. “It works miracles.”

  With that, the slight woman turned and headed toward the parking lot. She disappeared into the throngs of people milling about, and Cain felt the tension on his shoulders leave in a swoosh.

  He’d never had a problem with authority figures—teachers, principals, police officers, and so on. But that woman, that small bundle of godliness, had always managed to penetrate his defenses, and after all these years, she still made him nervous as hell.

  As if she knew something he didn’t.

  He continued on toward Maggie, his steps sure, his strides long. Luke glanced up and narrowed his eyes as a frown crept over his features.

  “Black,” Luke said.

  Cain ignored him. No one called him Black. Not even Mac or Jake.

  “You ready to get out of here, Maggie?”

  Her eyes were wary, and for a second he thought she was going to protest. “I…” she began, but Luke cut in.

  “She’ll be here for a while.”

  Anger shifted beneath his skin, and Cain flexed his fingers before glancing toward the paramedic. “Really.” He gestured behind him. “Seems to me you’ve got a ton of help, and since Maggie was here before the crack of dawn setting up for this sale, I think she’s good on the volunteer front, don’t you?”

  “What’s up?” Raine asked as she slid a marker behind her ear and tossed a toy into the reject bin.

  “We’re heading back to the lake.” Cain flashed a grin. “You coming?”

  “Is Jake going back?”

  Her question surprised Cain. He shrugged. “I assume he’ll make his way over. He’s already left to go meet his father.”

  Raine rolled her shoulders. “Okay, sounds good. I need a break.” A smile crept over her pale features. “Here comes Michael.”


  Michael was running full tilt, his legs pumping hard as he raced toward them, his friend Tommy steps behind. “Cain!” He waved several large sheets of paper in the air. “I found them.”

  Shit. Cain felt Maggie’s eyes on him but ignored her.

  Michael was puffing hard as he slid to a stop and grinned at them all before handing over his precious cargo to Cain.

  “Thanks, buddy. We’ll be leaving soon. Did Tommy clear it with his folks?”

  The fair-haired boy with Michael nodded. “My dad said it was okay as long as Maggie is there, because then he’ll know that no shenan…” He scratched his head. “Shenanig…” The kid’s brow furled and he turned to Michael.

  “Shenanigans.”

  Tommy grinned. “Yeah, that’s the word. None of that will be happening.”

  Cain hid a grin. “All right, then.” Nice to know his reputation as a hell-raiser was intact.

  He chanced a glance at Maggie. The wariness had returned to her face—big-time—along with a hint of annoyance. That he sensed clear as day. “Can I talk to you?” It wasn’t a question. It was an order. Her lips were tight, her features even tighter.

  Hell, yeah, she was annoyed and bordering on pissed, which meant that… Christ, he didn’t know what it meant. He just knew he liked it. This interaction with her, no matter if she was happy or angry. As long her gorgeous blue eyes were focused on him—he cracked a smile at Luke—and no one else.

  He followed her until they stopped several feet away. “What’s up?” When in doubt, play dumb.

  She opened her mouth and then closed it again, her gaze moving past him and then back. She spied the paper in his hand, arched her brow, and nailed him with a look that said What the hell?

  “Why did Michael bring you my illustrations? Those were donated to raise funds for the sale.”

  “They did.”

  “They did what?”

  “They raised funds for the sale.”

  “Really.” Sarcasm touched her voice, and he grinned.

  “Yes. They fetched a good price.”